More boat projects
24 November 2010 | New Bern, NC
John and Cheryl
Cheryl's Notes:
Well, October has come and gone and we are well into our list of projects. So far we have fixed the windlass and anemometer, rebuilt the head, replaced the galley faucet, modified the insulated top for the refrigerator, added a water filter under the sink, replaced the hot water heater and a strainer on the fresh water pump, and exchanged the arm on the outboard motor lift for a longer one. Our biggest success is the new port lights. What started as a very daunting project, turned into a great confidence booster. We were even more excited when they passed the water test. Now that the port lights are in, I have started to sew curtains. I have managed to complete seven of the nine curtains, but ran out of the sew on tape for the track guides. Oops, slight miscalculation on my measurements. (Sewing is on hold until we get our next shipment from Sailrite). We have our new dodger bows installed. David from Custom Canvas just took our bimini to make the necessary adjustments to extend it out over our new dodger frame. The next step will be to complete the panels to enclose the rest of the cockpit. The dodger project and the port lights are the two big ticket items on our list to have completed by the holidays.
It looks like we will be heading home for the holidays sometime at the beginning of December and staying until mid January. We will be making a stop in Cleveland to spend time with Barb and Trish., then home to spend time with our girls. I look forward to holiday baking shopping, and seeing Harry Potter with my girls. Oh, and looking for a new laptop, as mine bit the dust two weeks ago
John's Notes:
Update on the port lights. We had a couple of slight leaks but were able to correct with a small bead of Sikiflex 291. They look great.
It seems like the project list isn't getting any smaller because we keep adding a few things along the way. If one project makes the boat better, certainly a few more will make it better yet. It's really no different than doing a remodel on a house. Once you put a new sink in the bathroom, the toilet begins to look shabby, then the tile should probably be replaced. Then the light fixtures. You get the picture. It's just that this year and next the projects are expensive but should last for years and years. It's pretty neat though when other boaters look at the results and say "wow, kewl or wish I had thought of that" Maybe I should leave a donation box on deck.................I keep telling myself that all of this is worth it because in the long run, it's much cheaper than buying another boat. Notice I said "another" boat and not a new boat. A "new" boat the size of ours with the equipment and modifications we have would cost north of $250,000 or more. Definitely outside the range of my retirement funds.